Bret Michaels Medical update

Don’t know who is doing the blogging but on Bret’s MySpace blog is the following update:

Test results indicate a setback in Bret Michaels condition a side effect from the brain hemorrhage called hyponatremia a lack of sodium in the body which leads to seizures.

Bret Michaels was the topic of Larry King Live as Donald Trump Jr. and other celebrities weigh in on Michaels condition. Due to the severity of his condition, Bret Michaels continues to remain hospitalized in an intensive care unit at an undisclosed hospital. He remains in critical but stable condition according to his doctors. Last night on Larry King Live Bret Michaels condition was the topic on the show as Donald Trump Jr., Daryl Strawberry, Sanjay Gupta and Carlos Diaz discuss concerns, lasting affects as well Michaels as a person. Donald Trump Jr. stated that “Bret is very likeable guy, down to earth and a solid person.” He stated out of all the people from “Celebrity Apprentice,” I may have had the best kind of off-camera relationship with him over the three years. Trump Jr. also says he is a great father and rocker and concerned for the singers health. Strawberry who starred on Celebrity Apprentice with Michaels says he is a good friend on and off camera. He is a hard worker and is a creative force on the show. Without a doubt he lives a crazy lifestyle and he wishes him a speedy recovery. Carlos Diaz who is a Radio Host and Entertainment Correspondent says Michaels is “a star that transcends several generations.” He has reinvented his career, both on “Rock of Love” and “Celebrity Apprentice as well as his music. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is CNN’s chief medical correspondent says a subarachnoid hemorrhage is an aneurysm in one of the blood vessels. He stated about 10 percent of people don’t survive. He obviously survived that. About another quarter of people don’t make it through the first couple of days in the hospital and 30 percent make a full recovery.

Michaels medical workup demonstrated findings of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a type of stroke that causes bleeding in the fluid-filled spaces around the base of the brain. It presents itself suddenly as the sound of a loud gunshot or thunderclap at the back of the head causing severe cranial pain and muscle spasms. Many people are speculating Michaels head injury suffered from a prop striking the singer at the Tony awards last June is the cause. Additional studies are planned throughout the week to hopefully detect the exact cause of the rupture. Coupled with the fact that Michaels is a lifelong Type 1 diabetic and has recently undergone emergency appendectomy surgery while on tour in San Antonio, he will remain monitored closely by his medical team to make sure no complications occur from the diabetes.

The most common cause of this condition is a spontaneous rupture of a cerebral aneurysm, however 15 to 20 percent of spontaneous episodes of this hemorrhage are found to have no cause. Michaels has undergone a continuous series of tests while in the ICU including angiograms, CT scans, MRI’s and transcranial dopplers (TCD’s). Doctors state Michaels is very lucky as his condition could have been fatal. With further testing and rehabilitation, they are hopeful that Bret will gradually improve as the blood surrounding the brain dissolves and is reabsorbed into his system, which can be a very painful recovery and take several weeks to months. Michaels remains under 24-hour observation in the ICU and is in positive spirits. He is responding well to tests and treatments. Even though today was a minor setback Doctors remain hopeful for a full recovery and plan to release more specific information next Monday.

Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and support!

Thoughts, prayers and support are definitely in order

… and then at 6pm tonight, this blog post:

To all of Bret’s friends and fans,

We thank you all for your continued support and outpouring of well wishes for Bret.
While additional studies are planned throughout the week, to hopefully detect the exact cause of the rupture, Bret will remain monitored closely by his medical team to make sure no further complications occur. He is responding well to tests and treatments. Even though yesterday was a minor setback, Doctors remain hopeful for a full recovery and plan to release more specific information next Monday. While Bret is recovering we obviously have some shows that are being rescheduled. We are working to reschedule dates from now until May 21st. At this time we are planning to resume the tour May 26th in Ft. Smith Arkansas provided there are no further complications or setbacks. We will then continue with all scheduled dates throughout the summer and fall, including the June and July tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Look for additional information in the days and weeks to come. For those of you with tickets for shows that are being rescheduled, your tickets will be honored on the new dates. Tickets remain on sale for the shows which are being rescheduled although the new dates have yet to be announced.

Bret Michaels hospitalized again

It is indeed true. Bret Michaels has suffered a brain hemorrhage. Carol Anne Szel of Goldmine has confirmed it.

Was it due to complications from the appendicitis a week ago? He was rushed into surgery back then.

There is no other news about it yet. All we can say is Get Well Soon, Bret.

Megadeth’s David Ellefson says Satan is “a small fry guy”

As christian as his fellow co-founder David Mustaine, Ellefson finds it weird that bands would take the subject of Satan beyond lyrical entertainment.

Here’s an excerpt from an interview in Goldmine Magazine:

Does your songwriting still match with Dave (Mustaine) nowadays?
Ellefson: We’ll tell, I guess, as we move forward. Sometimes I pick up a bass but right now I’m in performance mode when I pick the instrument up. The other day I was at my house and some ideas fell out. I was in Megadeth but not around Megadeth, so a certain kind of thing came out and it made me go ‘Wow, this would probably work well on a future Megadeth record.’

Are you still interested in the same subjects? I mean, are you a fellow Christian?
Ellefson: I am.

Oh, okay, so you can still relate to each other as songwriters.
Ellefson: Absolutely. And you know it’s funny with Megadeth, because even years ago Dave would draw from scripture to come up with ideas and they would be very inspirational. It’s interesting. The whole Book of Isaiah, you could write an entire Iron Maiden album out of that, you know. It’s definitely a good source for inspiration. The history books are just ripe soil for writing metal records.

There had been too much of an unfair attack on metal in the past, especially in the ’80s, as far as it being Satanic.
Ellefson: It’s funny. Even when the thrash thing started, with Venom and all that, even if you listen to those things, none of those guys were Satan worshipers. They talked about Satan. Worshiping Satan, it’s like, ‘Is that the best you can do?’ He’s kind of a small fry guy. You’re kind of limiting your resources a little bit there, if you go down that road.

Was all that hard work of the PMRC in the ’80s for naught?

Probably so.

Did Bret Michaels’ appendix burst?

It was just a rumor, carried out-of-control on the Web.

The truth appears to be in a recent blog post on Michaels’ MySpace:

Bret Michaels, who is currently appearing on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice, remains in the hospital after an emergency appendectomy early Monday morning.

While on his current Roses and Thorns Tour which is set to visit over 200 cities, the legendary rock  and roll front man was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in San Antonio on Sunday after suffering from severe stomach pains and what was originally thought to be a case of the stomach flu. Upon further examination doctors insisted on performing a CAT scan which revealed that the 47 year old diabetic’s appendix was nearly ready to burst, and rushed him into an early Monday morning (1:00am) surgery. It is now known that his appendix would have more than likely burst on stage that evening quite possibly resulting in death

After spiking a fever during the overnight hours, which could be a sign of infection, it is reported that Michaels will remain under doctor’s care for an undisclosed amount of time as to monitor his progress watch for complications.

Metallica, Offspring, and Thin Lizzy used in the fight against the Taliban

“Taliban hate that music,” one US special forces officer explained.

Seems like the US military doesn’t need to smoke ‘em out. Just blast ‘em out. Heavy metal style.

According to the Associated Press, special forces are understood to be using loud music in a bid to filter out insurgents from a desolate Afghan farming community.

They could kick it up a notch. There are a lot heavier bands. Try some death metal, for instance, any death metal.

Thin Lizzy’s great but they won’t exactly put the fear of God in you like a band named Cattle Decapitation.

Dave Ellefson considers Rust In Peace tour a success

After re-joining  Megadeth to kick off the 20th Anniversary Rust In Peace tour, here’s bassist Dave Ellefson’s rundown:

“What an incredible trip these past few weeks have been for all of us, band and fans alike! We just finished the North American ‘Rust In Peace’ [20th-anniversary] tour at the Palladium in Hollywood Wednesday night [March 31] and it was an incredible homecoming. I say this because just a few blocks away Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH mainman] and I first met in our dingy little apartments on Sycamore Avenue and Hollywood Blvd. That chance meeting in 1983 spawned an incredible journey which the other night felt like a homecoming for MEGADETH. Longtime friends Kerry King [SLAYER], John Tempesta [THE CULT, ROB ZOMBIE, TESTAMENT, EXODUS] and Mikkey Dee [MOTÖRHEAD, KING DIAMOND] were hanging with us backstage. Even former managers, agents and business colleagues came down to celebrate this milestone in the band’s history. We all got to re-live our memories of the original ‘Rust In Peace’ tour back in 1990. Those were some cool moments to embrace.”

Look forward now to a Megadeth album with Ellefson.

BTW: “longtime friend Kerry King.”? Really?

Steven Tyler and Red Sox getting closer

As a Yankee fan, may I say ‘yuck.’

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler is not only planning to sing “God Bless America” on opening day this Sunday in Bawston, but his band is arranging a two-day summer concert at Fenway in August with J. Geils as an opener.

It’s easier to understand Tyler’s closeness to a Boston franchise than it is to believe that he is still singing for Aerosmith. Nonetheless, it will be hard seeing him wearing that Bosox uniform (if he desires to do so).

LeBron James and Jay-Z will be at the opener, too. But they will be rooting for the World Champions.

Go Yanks!